Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Memphis, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Costa Mesa, CA and Memphis, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,758 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $2,415 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,210 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $3,417 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,662 per month in Costa Mesa, CA vs $4,419 in Memphis, TN, rent included.

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 56% more than Memphis, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Costa Mesa, CA and Memphis, TN sit above the global median – Costa Mesa, CA by 181%, Memphis, TN by 81%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.24 $20.24

$19.19 $19.19

5.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.9 $79.9

$75.7 $75.7

5.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$9.97 $9.97

21.36%

Cappuccino

$5.07 $5.07

$5.11 $5.11

-0.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$2.56 $2.56

30.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$2.03 $2.03

9.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.15 $7.15

$5.82 $5.82

22.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$7.91 $7.91

3.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$0.94 $0.94

23.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.06 $4.06

$2.75 $2.75

47.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.37 $4.37

$4.50 $4.50

-2.89%

Eggs

$4.97 $4.97

$4.19 $4.19

18.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.69 $10.69

$10.95 $10.95

-2.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.50 $8.50

$11.00 $11.00

-22.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.79 $14.79

$15.47 $15.47

-4.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.34 $4.34

$6.31 $6.31

-31.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.58 $1.58

20.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.33 $4.33

$5.45 $5.45

-20.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.51 $5.51

$4.86 $4.86

13.37%

Potato (1kg)

$4.51 $4.51

$4.92 $4.92

-8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 $2.91

$3.35 $3.35

-13.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.01 $2.01

$2.35 $2.35

-14.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$2.47 $2.47

-12.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.20 $11.20

$7.94 $7.94

41.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.92 $14.92

$13.44 $13.44

11.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 $1.92

$1.76 $1.76

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.92 $1.92

79.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.24 $1.24

57.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.67 $12.67

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.45 $6.45

$2.06 $2.06

213.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.40 $1.40

100.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.71 $29.71

$19.81 $19.81

49.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.81 $0.81

58.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.2K $24.2K

$33.2K $33.2K

-27.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.3K $24.3K

$27.4K $27.4K

-11.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$284 $284

$215 $215

32.51%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$51.6 $51.6

$58.0 $58.0

-11.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.2 $60.2

$67.0 $67.0

-10.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.41 $40.41

$37.32 $37.32

8.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.71 $17.71

Cinema Ticket

$15.28 $15.28

$12.63 $12.63

20.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,196 $1,196

$1,582 $1,582

-24.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.4K $23.4K

$27.8K $27.8K

-15.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 $54.7

$39.22 $39.22

39.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.74 $34.74

$32.45 $32.45

7.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

$75.1 $75.1

13.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 $103

$141 $141

-26.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,781 $2,781

$1,207 $1,207

130.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,465 $2,465

$1,115 $1,115

121.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,948 $3,948

$1,547 $1,547

155.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,867 $3,867

$1,600 $1,600

141.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,757 $1,757

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,349 $1,349

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,283 $6,283

$3,578 $3,578

75.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

6.53

0.77%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Costa Mesa, CA: July 12, 2026

Last update for Memphis, TN: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,781 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $1,207 in Memphis, TN. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 76% higher in Costa Mesa, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Costa Mesa, CA versus $76.0 in Memphis, TN. Groceries tell a different story – $386 in Costa Mesa, CA vs $393 in Memphis, TN – so Costa Mesa, CA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Costa Mesa, CA vs Memphis, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Mesa, CA costs about 56% more than Memphis, TN, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,637 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $3,622 in Memphis, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Memphis, TN, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,758 in Costa Mesa, CA and $2,415 in Memphis, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,196 per month in Costa Mesa, CA and $1,582 in Memphis, TN. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Memphis, TN, where all-in costs run around $2,415, than in Costa Mesa, CA at $3,758. In Memphis, TN it covers expenses comfortably, while in Costa Mesa, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Memphis, TN costs $2,415 versus $3,758 in Costa Mesa, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Memphis, TN. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Costa Mesa, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.